Peer Pressure and Honesty many times go hand-in-hand. What is Larry to do when his teammate asks him to cheat when he is given the responsibility to run the clock during the big hockey game? Outwardly, it may seem he will follow suit, but his conscious tells him otherwise at the moment of truth.

"Hockey Agony takes a new twist when his teammate asks him to cheat by turning the clock in their favor. Larry is caught off guard by that request and he does not know what to do. Larry's emotional upheaval is well portrayed here. Children who are into any sport will find this book enjoyable because it deals with the details of a game, the winning spirit, and the good and the ugly side of competition.

Larry's emotional and physical pain, and the thoughts that race through his mind make the book emotional for the reader. Will Larry listen to his teammate and cheat or will he uphold his ideals and do the right thing?"~Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for
Readers' Favorite -- Five Star Review

Read an Excerpt

Larry and Matthew looked each other up and down. With the arena jam-packed it was hard to hear. It suited Larry just fine, since he had no plans to speak to Matthew anyway.

Larry couldn’t help himself and relented. “Look at these guys go.”

The rise and fall of the players’ chests through their jerseys was unmistakable with each stride and breath they took. The ice rink always felt cold as a spectator, not tonight. Beads of sweat formed on Larry’s forehead and neck.

“I wish I could be out there.”

“Me too,” Matthew said.

The glass rattled with each body check into the boards.

“Woo Hoo.” Larry cheered at the top of his lungs.

“This is the best game I’ve ever seen.” Matthew shouted over the roar of the crowd.

“You better believe it.” Larry smacked his hands on the table.

With only forty seconds on the clock, the score, Pearl River 5, Stony Point 4, Larry’s heart pounded in his chest.

Peter skated toward the goal and slipped by two defenders.

A lump formed in Larry’s throat seeing his spot on the team fade away. “I never realized Peter could skate so fast.”

Donna’s recent releases of Powder Monkey and Hockey Agony will be joined by two more books to be published by Guardian Angel Publishing, A Sandy Grave, and Dee and Deb, Off They Go. She writes, moms and is a personal assistant from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Children’s Literature Network, and Family Reading Partnership.

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